NHRA (LAS VEGAS) - SHIELDS MAKES WAY TO THE FINAL

The Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, is well under way. At press time local Top Alcohol Dragster favorite Duane Shields had advanced to the final round.

Shields was the class's No. 1 qualifier and faced off against Phoenix's Mark Niver in the first round. Shields ran 5.446 seconds at 263.36 mph to Niver's 5.593-second, 250.88 mph pass. In the semis Shields defeated Scott Murray, Winnipeg, Manit., with a 5.319-second, 27.88 mph run. Shields will face No. 2 qualifier, Joey Severance of Spanaway, Wash., in the final.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, top qualifier Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., red-lighted in the first round, leaving Don Hudson of Stockton, Calif., to advance to the semis. Former NHRA Northwest division champion Roger Bateman of Calgary, Alb., knocked Hudson off in the second round with a 5.949-second, 248.39 mph pass to Hudson's 6.233-second lap at 243.02 mph. In the final, Bateman will take on Ron August Jr., of Pleasanton, Calif., who beat out Mark Woznichak of Ontario, Calif., in the semis.

Alan Ellis, Mapleton, Utah, retained his No. 1 qualifying spot in Comp Eliminator as did Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., in Super Stock and in Stock Eliminator, Mark Yacavone, Glendale, Ariz., stayed in the top spot as well. Top Sportsman racer Greg Lair, Canyon, Texas, held on to the No. 1 position and so did Derik Milanesio, Strathmore, Calif., in the Top Dragster category. Sportsman Motorcycle racer Don Taklage, Huntington Beach, Calif., is the on new No. 1 qualifier.

Racing continues Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gates open at 8 a.m. and eliminations begin immediately.

Tickets for the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout are $20. Children 6 to 12 years old are $6 and kids 5 and under are admitted free. For more information call Las Vegas Motor Speedway, (800) 644-4444, or visit LVMS/

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results and first two rounds of eliminations for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car at the Short Line Express Market Gambler Shootout at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER 1. Duane Shields, Boulder City, Nev., 5.281 seconds, 276.29 mph 2. Joey Severance, Spanaway, Wash., 5.343, 267.27 3. Perkins, Bluffdale, Utah, 5.369, 263.77 4. Tom Bayer, Fontana, Calif., 5.393, 263.00 5. Scott Murray, Winnipeg, Manit., 5.396, 254.52 6. Brian Smith, Fullerton, Calif., 5.420, 258.81 7. Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg, Ind., 5.431, 272.83 8. Mark Niver, Phoenix, 5.471, 256.70 Not Qualified 9. Jeff Isbell, Salt Lake City, 5.501, 251.39 10. Brandon Johnson, Shelton, Wash., 5.534, 260.46 11. Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., 5.569, 260.76 12. Larry Miersch, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.585, 240.55 13. Randy Eakins, Carson City, Nev., 5.826, 227.00 14. Mark Foster, Santa Cruz, Calif., 6.529, 197.57 15. Ed Vickroy, Fontana, Calif., 6.762, 170.19

Round 1 1. Shields, 5.446 seconds, 263.366 mph def. 8. Niver, 5.593, 250.88 2. Severance, 5.456, 261.78 def. Lucas, 5.498, 265.59 6. Smith, 5.760, 238.68 def. 3. Perkins, foul 5. Murray, 5.464, 261.88 def. 4. Bayer, 5.480, 251.81

Semifinals Shields, 5.319, 273.88 def. Murray, 5.423, 263.56 Severance, 5.374, 269.19 def. Smith, 5.683, 245.81

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

1. Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.651 seconds, 257.14 mph

2. Mark Woznichak, Ontario, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.692, 251.34

3. Ron August Jr., Pleasanton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.699, 255.63

4. Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.715, 252.61

5. Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '02 Camaro, 5.730, 249.35

6. Von Smith, Oak Ridge, Tenn., '02 Camaro, 5.750, 251.39

7. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim Hills, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.765, 249.63

8. Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.769, 249.26

Not Qualified

9. Pete Swayne, Santa Rosa, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.775, 245.72

10. Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.849, 250.60

11. Sean O'Bannon, Ontario, Calif., '07 Charger, 5.860, 246.44

12. Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., '02 Firebird, 5.876, 250.78

13. Ken Kraus, Great Falls, Mont., '02 Camaro, 5.919, 246.89

14. Paul Crifasi, Henderson, Nev., '02 Firebird, 5.957, 233.68

15. Larry Miner, Lodi Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.958, 244.29

16. Russell Parker, Salem, Ore., '00 Avenger, 6.035, 242.93

17. Alexis De Joria, Venice, Calif., '07 Charger, 6.475, 228.81

18. Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '02 Firebird, 6.621, 160.56

19. Sean Bellemeur, Newport Beach, Calif., '02 Camaro, 6.923, 194.07

20. Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, DQ

Round 1

8. Hudson, 8.619 seconds, 103. 88 mph def. 1. Gordon, foul

2. Woznichak, 5.712, 253.71 def. 7. Taylor, 5.849, 249.72

3. August Jr., 5.908, 253.04 def. 6. Smith, 7.274, 134.85

5. Bateman, 5.894, 248.16 def. 4. Thompson, 6.169, 242.67

Semifinals

Bateman, 5.949, 248.39 def. Hudson, 6.233, 243.02

August Jr., 5.733, 253.42 def. Woznichak, 6.802, 148.15